Cotton-harvester.



R. L. EDWARDS.

COTTON HARVESTER. ABBLIOATION FILED 113.27, 1908.

9%,1255 Patented N0v.8,19 10.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. L. EDWARDS.

COTTON HAEVE$TEE. APPLICATION FILED 113.27, 1908:

Patented Nov. 8, i910.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

R. L. EDWARDS.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED rmm'z, 190s.

Patented Nov. 8,1910.

5 SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. L. EDWARDS. OOTTON HARVESTBR.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.27, 1908.

Eatented NOV. 8, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WQ WNN R. L. EDWARDS.

COTTON HABVESTER: APPLICATION FILED PERRY, 1908.

' Patented Nov. 8, 1910."

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

tomatic and e corron-nanvns'rna.

specification of Letters Patent.

' Patent ed Nov. a, rare.

Application filed February 27, 1908. $erlal No. 418,153.

To all wlwm it may comerm 'Beit known that I, ROBERT L.VEDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Darlington, Darlin ton county, South Carolina, have invent certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton harvesting machines and particularly to one driven by a hydrocarbon engine. Its ob ects are to genera 1y improve cotton harvest n machines, and to roduce one which will an- %cient in operation, harvestin a maximum amount of the cotton contamed on the st lks over which it is assed. It also includes cans for cleaning t e cotton to a great extent from trash.

7 The various n vel and improved features are pointed out ereinafter and set forth in. the attached claims.

It is well known that cotton is planted in rows three or four feet apart. My machine is adapted'to straddle such a row, been made up o i two similar sections connects together ,byframowork at theto and having an open passage with vertica side walls lengthwise centrally through the bottom art, the said height and breadt to allow the machine to Ease over the stalks without breaking them.

ach section carries framework upon which.

A are mounted picking s indies which are adapted to be project through the side wal s of the passage and into the space occupied by the cotton stalks. These spindles rotate at a high speed when projected into the cotton space and being provided with small teeth en age the cotton fiher wherever it is touche and retain it wrapped tightly around the spindles. These spin-- dles are placed sudlciently close together to touch most of the open bolls of cotton when once projected, and as pointed out hereafter, the machine is so constructed that diiierent spindles at difierent places along the length of the machine will at difierent times roject into the same cotton space but in di erent positions therein, thus practically reaching every spot where a boll of cotton can be found. Means is not onl provided for rotatin the spindles and or projecting and with rawing them at the right time, but

1 is a plan view 00 assage having suficient' I also for making them stay in one spot when pro ected into the cotton space while the.

machine itself goes'iorward. The spindles themselves are of novel construction and are mounted in a novel way both as to their ran snares earner orrrcn f cotton space and wili not break when they strike a hard obstruction but will continue their rotation. I have also provided means for raising or lowering either or both spin dle carrying sections oi the' machine without interfering in any way with their opera-u tion. lhe cotton is automatically stripped from the spindles when they are withdrawn into the casings of the two. sections and the cotton is collected therein.

In the aocom an ing drawings,--;Figure 1 ing down on top of my im roved machine; Big. 2 is a side view wit a part of the casing or armor surrounding the working parts removedpFig.

3 is ahorizontal section of one, half of the machine and a plan view of the other half,

parts being shown in full lines and the armor and supporting frame being omitted; Fi 4 is a sectional side view of one of the spindle carr ing sections taken upon the line t-4 of ig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross section of a fragment of the device showin a picking spindle on an enlarged scale; %ig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 7--7, Fig. 5, showing a fragment of attached parts in full lines; Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8, Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of apart of the driving connections.

As shown in the drawings my machine embodies a main frame 1 which carries bearports all of the working parts of the machine. The drive wheels are shown as placed near the rear of the machine and outside the main frame. This frameincludes the vertical members a and 5 and suitable braces. It is also provided with extensions 6 projecting forwardly at its top in advance of the forward vertical member t. These forward extensions have ri idly attached thereto vertical matings "Z ar the forked ings for the drive wheels 2, 3, and which an 40 means of slottedarms 28, 29 connected there- I support 8 for the front or guide wheels 9,.

10. It will be noted that these wheels arewithin the side lines of the. main frame and are so arranged that they may be turned for the purpose of guiding the machine, This turning is effected throughthe vertical ivot bearings of the forked supports 8 the ower ends of these forks having suitable bearings A hydrocarbon engine 11 is mounted on y and is providedwith the fly wheels 12, 13 and the pulley 14. I have shown this pulley connected by belt 15 to pulley 16 on the cross shaft 17, but it is to be understood that any other suitable driving connection may be machine.

\ with larger driving whee s.

used between the engine and shaft. The shaft 17 is the main operating shaft of the machine, from which the moving (parts are driven, and as shown it is mounte in bearings on top of the main frame in front of the engine and is provided with differential gear. It extends entirely across the frame and has beyond the edge of the frame pinions 18, 19 connected by link chains 20, 21 inions 22 on the axles of the It will be understood that it is necessary to use two chains or similar driving means, one for each wheel, by reasonof the fact that the axles of those wheels are separate. The. axle cannot extend straight across the machine, for if it did it wouldbe directly in the cotton space. Bevel gears 23,24 are also mounted on shaft 17, and are adapted to cooperate with similar gears 25, 26 on vertical shafts 27 extending down into the-machine.

The forked su ports between the front wheels and the rame are turned on their pivot bearings to guide the machine by to and pro'ecting rearwardly on to of the hese arms may be turne by any suitable means, and I have shown for that purpose the sliding rod or bar 30, having at its ends" pins entering the slots of the arms. This bar has along itscenter the rack teeth 31 in engagement with the toothed pinion 32. This pinion is connected by chain 33 with another pinion ,34 which is attached to the rod 35 which has upon its upper end a hand .wheel 36 convenient to the operator who sits onthe seat 37 It will be understood that rotation of the handwheel-inone direction or the other slides the bar 30 in one direction or the other by means of the connecting -plinions and chain, and that con seuently t t e machine in the direction deslred. The front wheels'b'eing within the mar 'n of the machine permits-this turning wit out projecting beyond the machine and into the s de rows of cotton. It will also be understood that any suitableficlutch or speed regulating mechanism may be used between the engine e front wheels are turned to guide is provided with bearings 38, 39, 40 and 41.

The specific features of construction so far described relate to the fundamental elements of a cotton harvester and the means for operating it, and while I regard them as eflicient fort-he purpose, I do not wish to limit myself to them since the main features used with equaladvantage with substitutes such as will occur to. those skilled in the art. It should be noted, however, that the use of a hydrocarbon engine as the propelling can be regulated and made as slow as desired, rendersit possible to accomplish results which never could be accompllshed by a machine drawn by horses or'other animals that move at a speed which is too great to secure the best results. In my study of this subject I have reached the conclusion that the practical failure of many harvesting mathought necessary to ponstruct them for use at the speed at which horses ordinarily walk. I have specially constructed my machine for cover plate 42 are the secondary frames 43, .44. These frames are not quite as high as the main frame so as to give room for vertical adjustment therein. They fill the spaces between the cotton space and the outer wall of the main frame having sliding engagement therewith at the ends and side so that they may be easily moved vertically. In orderto effect this vertical motion I have shown four cords or chains 45 for each frame connected to the four corners extending upwardly through holes in the cover plate of the main frame over pulleys 46 and onto. drum 47. All of the cords for one frame are attached to'the same drum so that any revolution of that drum Winds the cords the same amount and thus produces an even raising or lowering of the'frame and avoids binding. The drum 47 is operated by the handle arm 48 which engages segment 49 to hold it in any desired position. I Within the secondary frame 43 is mounted the third frame 50 which fits closely within frame 43 in so far as height and breadth are concerned but which is not so long; It is .mounted upon rollers 51, 52 (Fig; 4) running in track-ways 53, 54 in the ottom of ,frame'43. There are four or-more of these rollers, there being at least two for each and the main drivingshaft 17. The shaft of my invention hereafter described may he means by which the speed of the harvester Mounted in the main frame 1 below the chines has been due to the fact that it was use at a lower speed and have therefore comave se track-way. The purpose of this mounting is to permit frame 50 to move lengthwise wlthin frame 43.. The inner wall of frame 50 is covered by slats 129 of the secondary frame and alternate slats 55 of frame 50 having numerous holes 56 therein for the passage. of. the picking fingers or spindles 57. Spaced from and parallel with wall 55 the frame 50 is provided with wall 58, having in cross section. The picking spindles pass through this space and as hereafter pointed out the cotton on the spindles is stripped therefrom in this space and falls to the bottom thereof when the spindles are drawn back into the frame.

It will be observed that the inner wall 55 is made up of longitudinal slats on the secondary frame and shorter longitudinal slats on frame 50, which slats on frame 50 are' provided with the holes 56. The slats carricd by frame 50 of course move longitudi- 'nallf, of the machine with that frame, and

since the two sets of slats practically meet at their top and bottom edges they form a wall for the cotton picking space which is practically continuous.

Back of late 58 there is mounted a narrow vertica frame 61, which has at its'top and bottom rollers 62, 63 which run in track-ways 64, 65 near the ends of the secondary frame 43 and extending across the same. This permits the frame 61 to move back and forth across frame 43 and sufficient space is allowed so that it may move back away from wall 58 until the ends of the picking spindles are within that wall. This frame 61 is provided with numerous separated toothed racks 66 which extend lengthwise thereof, one rack being provided for each row of picking spindles. The s indies are connected to and move with t e frame and racks as hereafter specifically described. As shown in the drawlngs when frame 61 is near wall 58 the picking spindles 57 project through wall 58, through wall 55 and the intervening cotton receiving space and also half-way to the wall of the opposite section of the machine. As this frame is moved away from this wall, the

spindles being withdrawn through the walls 55. 58, are stripped of their cotton at the wall 58, which cot-ton falls to the bottom of t-he'cotton receiving space between the walls and is carried to the rear of the machine by a wide belt conveyer 67 which is meanted on the pulleys 68, 69. At the rear end of this belt and in an extension'70 of the frame 43, I have shown a belt conveyer 71 having thereon projections 72 adapted to engage the cotton delivered by belt 67 and to raise it to thetop of the machine where it is to be delivered into any suitable receptacle not shown. tends at a slight inclination to the vertical and is'mounted on suitable pulleys. These two conveyers are operated by sultable connection from pinion 73 driven through chain belt '74 from the axle of the driving Wheels and they both operate together.

It will be noted that each half of the main frame has mounted therein three other frames each having motion in a different direction within the main frame, and this makes it necessary tohave flexible driving connection between the engine on the main fixed frame and these movable frames. The frame 4:8 has no motion within the main frame save vertically and this frame carries the frames 50 and 61 and imparts to them the same vertical motion. Frame 50 moves lengthwise of frame 43 but not laterally whereas frame 61 moves laterally but not lengthwise. The lengthwise motion is given to frame 50 by cam 75 having suitable bearings at the forward" end of framexlti and cotipcrating with the sliding rod 76 attached to the frame. The rod 76 has at its forward end a' roller 77 cotiperating'with the cam surface of the cam member 75 of the proper shape to effect the desired motion of the frame. The sidewise motion of frame 61 is imparted from cylindrical cam piece 79 having therein the cam groove 80 of the proper shape.- The two cam pieces 75. 79 have. operative connection through suitable pinions on their shafts and the connecting operating chain belt 81. The frame 61 is" operated from cam groove 80 by means of the slidingrod 82 having at one end a roller working; in the groove and being connected at its other end to an operating arm 83 secured to a vertical shaft 84 adapted to rotate in bearings 85, 86, 87 mounted on the inner side of the outer wall ofv frame 43 near the center. This shaft 84 has secured thereto near the bearings 86, 87, the arms 88, 8.! which arms have upon theirshorteiends segmental gears 90. The outer end of arm 89 has pivotally secured thereto link 91 which is also pivotally secured to an car 92 fastened to one of the racks 66 of frame 61. Arm 88 is similarly connected to link 93 secured to car 94. A shaft 95 is rotatively mounted in the bearing pieces 86, 87, and has adjacent those bearings, arms 96, 97 similar to arms 88, 89, and having similar connection through links'98, 99 audears 160 and 101 with racks 66. The gear segments on 89, 97 mesh as do those on 88, 96 so that these arms move together. It will be obvious that the rod 82 being moved lengthwise by the cam turns the arm 88 and consequently the arms 88, 89, 96 and 97,

This second conveyer exand thus draws the frame 61 away from or pushes it toward wall 58 according to the direction in which 'the'rod 82 is moved. It.

will also be noted that the four similar link arm connections operating together and being attached to the frame at widely separated points will give to all uniform and even motion and will prevent tippin and binding. This frame 61 may V cal shaft 104. This shaft 104 has'sliding key connection with the interior of hollow shaft 27 which isrotated in a fixed positionby the main driving shaft 17. This permits the bevel gear 103 to rise and fall with the rise.and fall offrame 43 without breaking the driving 'connection -with the driving shaft. '1 have shown this as a suitable means for flexibly connectin the driving and driven parts of the mac ine, butits particular form constitutes no part of my invention andtherefore other connecting means may be employed'and they will readily occur to mechanics skilled in" the art. I

The pickin spindles 57 which I use are made of meta preferably steel and they are provided throughout their length with grooves 105. See, articularly Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. I preferabl make the spindle solid and provide" them with four of these grooves ninety degrees apart asshown. These spindles are alsoprovided between the grooves with one or-more rows of sharp picking pro-v jections or teeth 106 which can be inade to disap ear by proper mechanism. One row.

" is su cient and it should extend about half the length'of the spindle from the outer end.

The sp ndles are-mounted in bearing sleeves 107 in the wall 58 and are adapted to slide lengthwise .therethrough. These bearing sleeves have cylindrical openings lengthwise iameter than the zpindles so thatthe spindles may be withrawn therethrough wlthout hitting the projections 106 against the sleeve. These sleeves also have on their interior four longitudinal ribs'122 which fit closely the rooves in the spindle, the ends of these r1 5 projecting slightly from the end of the sleeve into the cotton receivingspace and being inclined downwardly into the grooves as shown in Fig. 5. These points are cutting edges. Thesleeves are mounted to turn in bearings in wall 58 and I prefer to-use ball bearings as shown to lessen the friction. Each spindle has mounted thereon beyond the wall 58 a toothed pinion 108 adapted to engage one of parts of it a of the spindles.

I the racks 66 on. frame 61 and having. the flan e 109 which fits behind the upper edge Thepinion has. interior of .t e .rack bar. a projections like those on the sleeve 107 fitting within the grooves. in the spindle, and,

thus it may slide lengthwise of the spindle without losing its "operative engagement therewith for. the purpose ofrotatin it. It i will be seen by reference to Fig. 5 t' at the racks 66 are made angular in cross section, the rack teeth being formed on the upright portion and the horizontal portion being provided with groove 110. A thin fiat late 111 extends lengthwise of the machine ack.

of each row of spindles and is rovided with holes through which the spmdles loosely pass. These various plates are connected attheir .ends by the thmvertical stri S112, 113 thus forming a frame with its en pieces in close proximity to the ends of frame 50.

This frame moves across the machine with the racks 66 since the lower edges of the plates 111 enga e the rooves 110, but it also moves lengt wise o the machine with frame 50. It maybe provided withrollers at the ends as shown at 114 bearing against the end pieces of frame 50. An anti-friction connection with groove 10 may also be provided if desired.

Connected to the back side of plates 111 are the circular disks 11.5 havin openings in the center for-the passage of t e spindles a circular roove in the circumppositely lsposed radial 0 enand havin ference.

ings 116 are madeiin this disk, and sli ing lockin pins 117 are placed in these openings. lhe inner ends of these pins are made wedge sha ed to fit a wedge shaped groove prevent undue friction between the pins and in the hea of the picking spindles. Shoulthe picking spindle. A s lit springring v118 is placed in the circum erential groove of the disks 115 and bears on the outer ends of the pins 117 tendin to keep their inner ends in engagement wit the {groove in the head It will be seen thatwhen the spindle 57 strikes an obstruction, wheln bein projectedfrom the machine, which 'issufiiciently rigid the pins 117 will ride up on' the inclined surface of the groovein the spindle raising the sprin ring with them and allowing the spind e to stop its endwise' motion while per-- this part'of my invention.

- It should be observed that by reason of swim.

the groove connection between indle 57 and pinion 108 the spindle is not t rown out of operative connect1on but continues to rotate with the pinion even when it is prevent- 5 ed from moving endwisa; This function for the structure has peculiar advantages since no spindle is thrown out of o eration merely because it cannot project its full le gth across the cotton space, but it'operat s to lopick the cotton right up to the point where the obstruction is just as effectually as if it extended its full length.

side of the frame 50 is a spring pressed plate 119 supported by springs 120 and when the frame 61 'is drawn inwardly for the full length the heads of spindles 57 will come in contact with the plate. This will automatically ush into place any spindles which 'have n displaced by an obstruction on their forward movement. The plate will act as a cushion step to aid in stopping and starting the frame. The pins 117 will enter the groove in the head of the pin and hold it in normal position for another picking oper- 25.ation. The openings 56 in the wall 55 are made with sharp outer edges as shown in Fig. 5 with the purpose of assisting in removing the tras from the cotton collected -on the spindles. Each-spindle except those in the top row has mounted thereovera hood or shield 121 which extends between the walls 55 and 58 and protects the spindle from cotton dropped from spindles above it.

These hoods may be made in any form suitable for the purpose.

It will be observed that the plate 111 and attached parts furnish additional bearings for the spindles which are always in line with the rotary bearings 107, since these parts move longitudinally of the machine together. These two bearings while always chine turns main shaft 17 at any s eed de-' sired. This motionis transmitted y belts v20, 21 to the driving wheels and to the cotton conveyers 67, 71 Within the machine and is also transmitted through the sliding bevel gear connection to the cam cylinders 75, 79. The cam groove in cylinder 75 is of such shape that it will drive frame from the front to the rear of the machine at precisely the same speed that the machine itself is moving forward. When it reaches the rear it is drawn forward rapidly to the front tion. the rear the spindles rotate in t e direction Near the outer and is again driven to the rear at the comparative y low speed. The back and forth motion of this frame carrying the picking spindles with it will rotate those spindles by the action of the pinions 108 rollin on racks 66 which racks do not have the en wise mo- When the frame is bein driven to in which the picking projections or teeth thereon point and consequently the fiber of the cotton is can ht by those teeth wherever it is touched. T e cam groove in cylinder 79 and the connecting mechanism is so constructed that when the frame 50 reaches its forward position the frame 61 is pushed quickly toward wall 58 thus projecting the spindles beyond wall into the space where the cotton stalks are bearing the cotton to be icked. Thes indles are allowed to remain in this position until the frame 50 a proaches its rearmost position when t e frame 61 is drawn away from wall 58 withdrawin the spindles from the cotton space. Preferaily at the moment that the frame 50 stops its rearward motion the ends of the spindles are just within the wall 55. They then commence their reverse rotation while still receding and thus the cotton which has been tightly wra ped around the spindles as it was collecte tation is loosened and it is strip ed from the spindles'by the inclined forwar ends of the I'lbS 122 in the bearing v107 which rotates with the spindles. The spindles'may if preferred be withdrawn without rotation.

The cotton thus stripped ofi falls to the bottom of the space between walls 55, 58 and is carried oil by the conveyors. Any trash held by the cotton will by the rotation of the spindle be thrown outwardly b centrifugal force a ainst the sharpedge o the opening 56, an will be broken and partly at least dropped on the outside of wall 55. This furthermore frees the cotton from thestalks.-

The machine is referably made of such length that the s indle carrying frame will pro ect the spin es into the cotton several times before the machine has moved forward the length of the spindleframe and thus the same stalk of cotton will be subjected to the action severaltimes .by successive sets of spindles along the length of the frame. The arts are furthermore so timed that successive spindles will not enter the stalk at the samespot but at one slightly removed therefrom lengthwise of the row thus reaching bolls of cotton which were not reached at the first projection of the spindles. This enables practically every spot in the cotton space large enough to contain a boll of cotton to be reached by a picking spindle. It is to be noted furthermore that the elevating and lowering means disclosed may be used to make the during the forward 1'0- spindles pick at different elevations and thus reach all points of the cotton stalks. The oscillation of the machine will tend to have the same effect particularly if mountedmn springs.

The entire machine including the wheels.

is surrounded by-a protecting sheath or armor 123 which is preferably made of sheet metal. This armor has the forward round- 1 roll on the ground and are alsoprovided with the short-arms 127 projecting from the edge and touching the ground for'the purpose of raising any limbs of the cotton stalks whichhappen to rest on the ground.

This structure of the. forward part of the shield raises the limbs of the cotton stalk and directs them into the cotton space'where they will be acted upon by the spindles without'shaking them unduly or-breaking them.

It will, of course,' be understood that suitable clutches may be employed for throwing out of 0 eration the cotton-picking mechacotton space and for withdrawing them,and'

- toward said cot-ton space, the edges of said j o enmgs being. made sharp whereby trash is t'rown outwardly against them by centrifnism wit out stopping the engine and without breakmgthe driving connection to the mam wheels so that the machine ma be driven to and from the place of use wit out" operating all of its interior mechanism. Having described my invention what I claim is,

1. In a cotton harvester, the combination with the'main frame, having a central cot-.

ton space of an armor surrounding said frame the'front ends of said armor being rounded upon 'each side of the central cotton space, forwardly projecting conical extensions of said rounded ends of the armor at the bottom, and arms projecting from said extensions to the ground to. engage and elevate fallen limbs of the cotton and direct them into the cotton space.

2. In a cotton harvester the combination with picking s indles, of means for rotating them, means or projecting them into the a wall provided with enlarged openings through whlch the spindles project tapering ugal action and ls-dislodged without being drawn into the machine. I

3. In a cotton harvester the combination. w th the main frame of the machinehavin'g a central cotton space, of-picking spindles arranged at'difierentelevations adapted to be pro ected into the cotton space, separated walls through which said spindles" ass forming a'cotton receiving space, at t e side 'of.

"the cotton space a conve'ye'r at the bottom of 'said' cotton receiving space, means for discharging the cotton from the spindles within this space, and shields over the spindles in this space to protect them from cotton falling from spindles above.

4. In a cotton harvester the combination with rotary picking spindles, of means for subjecting each stalk to the successive action of different sets of spindles at different oints longitudinally and vertically where y practically all points of the stalks are acted upon.

.5. In a cotton harvester the combination with rotary picking spindles, of means for projecting all of said'spindles' at once into the cotton space and means for subjecting eachstalk to the successive action of differ ent sets of spindles at different points longitudinally and vertically whereby practically all points of the stalks are acted upon.

6. In a cotton harvester the combination with a series of picking spindles, of two 'walls through which they are adapted to project into the cotton space, thesaid walls forming vbetween them a cotton receiving space, means for projecting the spindles.

through the'walls into the cotton space and for withdrawing them, -means.for rotating the-spindles. in a forward direction as they are being projected into the cotton space and so long as any part of them is in such space, and means for rotating them in a re-:

verse direction when being{ withdrawn after their points are within the jouter wall.

7. In a cotton harvester with'a series of icking spindles arranged in rows, of means or rotating ,them as the machine-moves forward, means for projecting them all atonceinto and withdrawing them. from the cotton space more than once as the machine passes a single stalk whereby diifer-' ent spindles along the length of the row will enter the same stalk, and means whereby upon successive projections the spindles will enter each stalk at adifierent place lengthwise of the row of cotton from that at which the previous spindles entered it, and means for making the spindles upon successive projections. enter the stalks at different elevations.

8. In a cotton harvester the combination with amain frame, of a secondary frame mounted therein and adapted to be adjusted vertically, a third frame mounted in the second an -.'adapted to be moved lengthwise therein, picking spindles mounted" in rotary hearings in the wall of the third frame and adapted to move lengthwise therewith, pinframe' and carrying toothed racks with which the pinions on the spindles "engage, and connections between said spindles and I I k I the combination ions carried by said's'pindles, a fourth frame I mounted to, move crosswise in the second.

crease jected or withdrawn as said fourth frame IDOVGS across thfi SQCOIlCl.

9. In a cotton harvester the combination with the main frame of the machine, of a movable frame carried thereby, means for moving said frame lengthwise of the machine, rotary bearings in said movable frame picking spindles mounted in saidbearings,

additional bearings for said spindles separate from but 'in line with said rotary bearings, pinions attached to said spindles, and longitudinally fixed racks with which said pinions engage whereby the spindles are rotated as the frame moves either forward or backward.

10. In a cotton harvester the combination with the main frame of the machine, of a movable frame carried thereby, means for moving said frame lengthwise of the machine, rotary bearings in said movable frame picking spindles mounted in said bearings, additional bearings for said spindles separate from but in line with said rotary bearings, pinions attached to said spindles and longitudinally fixed racks with which said pinions engage whereby the spindles are rotated as the frame moves either forward or backward, and means for moving said racks across the machine to project the spindles into or withdraw them from the cotton space.

11'. In a cotton harvester the'combination with a wall facing the cotton space, of rotary bearings mounted therein at intervals and provided with interior guide ribs, picking spindles in said bearings having grooves in which said ribsfit, pinions on said spindles back of the bearings the said pinions having ribs making sliding engagement with the grooves in the spindles, a toothed rack engaged by said pinions, means for producing a relative motion of the rack and pinions to rotate the spindles, a frame having frictionalengagement with the heads of the spindles back of the pinions, and means for I moving said frame toward and away from the wall to project the spindles into and withdraw them from the cotton space.

12. In a cotton harvester the combination with a wall facing the cotton space, of rotary bearings mounted therein atintervals and provided with interior guide ribs, pick-' ing spindles in said bearings having grooves in which said ribs fit, pinions on said spindles back of the bearings the said pinions having ribs making sliding engagement with the grooves in the spindles, a toothed rack engaged by said pinions, means for producing arelative motion of the rack and pinions to rotate the spindles, a frame having frictional engagement with the heads of the spindles back of the pinions, means for moving said frame toward and away from stripping points.

the wall toproject the spindles into and withdraw them from the cotton space, and a spring pressed plate against which the rear ends of the spindles are withdrawn.

13. A cotton picking spindle having picking teeth, in combination with a sliding guiding support having stripping points, the said spindle being provided with guide grooves lengthwise thereof adapted to receive said Sliding guiding supports and 14. A cotton picking spindle having picking teeth lengthwise thereof and being provided with four guide grooves lengthwise thereof spaced equal distances apart.

15. A. solid cotton picking spindle provided with guide grooves lengthwise thereof and with a row of picking teeth projecting from the surface between adjacent grooves. 16. The combination with a cotton picking spindle provided with teeth and a longitudinal groove, of a stripper having a projection at the forwardedge entering said groove to disengage the cotton from the spindle.

17. The combination with a cotton picking spindle provided with a longitudinal row of teeth and a groove adjacent thereto,

of astripper through which said spindle passes in entering the cotton space the said stripper being provided with a projection the bottom of which enters said groove the outer surface of said projection being inclined longitudinally to the surface of the spindle.

18. The combination with a cotton picking spindle having picking teeth and guide grooves lengthwise thereof, of a bearing therefor having guide ribs fitting closely within the grooves and making slidable connection therewith.

19. The combination with a cotton picking spindle having picking teeth and guide grooves lengthwise thereof, of a bearing therefor having guide ribs fitting at their inner'edges closely within the grooves and making slidable connection therewith, the said ribs extending beyond the bearing at the forward end and the 'outer edges of the extensions being cut away to enter the interior corresponding to and fitting within I the guide grooves.

21. The combination with a rotatable cot ton picking spindle having guide grooves lengthwise thereof, of a cylindrical rotatable bearing therefor having guide ribs upon its interior corresponding to and fitting within the guide grooves, the ends of said ribs pro- 'ecting beyond the end of the bearing and eing cut off to'enter the grooves at an angle to the surface of the spindle. 22. In a cotton'harvester the combination with rotary picking spindles adapted to be projected into the cotton space, of means for ro ecting and withdrawing them, and flexifile connection between the said meansand I each spindle whereby it may stop in its for-' ward motion when it strikes an obstruction. 23. In a cotton harvester the combination with rotary picking spindles adapted to be projected into the cotton s ace, of means for.

projecting and withdrawing them, flexible connection between the said means and each spindle whereby it may stop in its forward motion when it strikes an obstruction, means for rotatin the spindles, and connections between said rotating means and spindles whereby no spindle will cease its rotation when stopped in its forward motion by, an

obstruction.

, 24. In a cotton harvester the'combination with the picking spindles, of a frame for rojecting them lengthwise into and withdrawing them from the cotton space, and frictional connection between said frame and spindles whereby a spindle may stop in its forward motion while the frame and otherspindles continue to move.

25. In a cotton harvester'the combination I with the picking spindles, of a frame for projecting thenrlengthwise into and withrawing them from the cotton space, frictional connection between said frame and spindles whereby a spindle may stop in its forward motion while the frame and other spindles continue to move, and means for pushing into place all spindles which have been so stopped when the frame is withdrawn.

26. The combination with. a cylindrical picking spindle having a wedge shaped circumferential groove near the end, of means for operating said spindle includin spring pressed pins with wedge shaped en s fitting in said groove.

27. The" combination with a cylindrical .picking spindle having a wedge shaped circumferential groove near the end, of means for operating said spindle including radially slidable pins hearing at their inner ends in said groove, and a split spring ring bearing upon the outer endsof the pins and forcing them inward.

28. The combination with a picking" spindle provided with longitudinal guide grooves, of a rotatable bearing having in-' terior ribs fitting said groovesand making sliding connection therewith, a toothed pinion on said spindle having ribs slidably engaging the grooves therein, and a toothed rack for turning said pinion.

29. The combination with a picking rior ribs fitting sliding connection therewith, a toothed pinspindle provided with longitudinal guide grooves, of a rotatable bearing having interior ribs fitting said grooves and making sliding connection therewith, a toothed pinion on said spindle having .ribs slidably enaging the grooves there n, a toothed rack or turning said pinion, and means formoving, said. spindle lengthwise through the bearing.

30. The combination with a icking spindle provided with longitudinal guide grooves, of a rotatable bearing having interior ribs fitting saidgrooves and making sliding connection therewith, a toothed pinion on said spindle having ribs slidably engag'ingthe grooves therein, a toothed rack for turning said pinion, means for positively moving the rack in a direction lengthwiseof the'spindle, and frictional connection between said spindle and moving means;

31. The combination with a picking spindle provided with longitudinal guide grooves, of a rotatable bearing having intesaid grooves and making ion on said spindle having ribs slidably enaging the grooves therein, a toothed rack for turning said pinion, means for positively moving the rack in a direction lengthwise of the spindle, frictional connection between said spindle and moving means, and a late against which the rear end of the spindle is withdrawn by the moving means.

32. In a cotton harvester, the combination with a frame, of rotary bearings .in said frame, parallel picking spindles slidably mounted in said earings, additional bearings for said spindles separated from but in line with said rotary bearings, means for moving said additional'bearings toward and away from said rotary bearings while mainconnecting said spindles to said additional bearings whereby they will move longitudinally with said bearings.

'33. In a cotton harvester the combination with a frame, of rotary bearings in said frame, parallel icking spindles slidably mounted in said earings, additional bear- .ings for said spindles separated from 'but in line with said rotary bearings, means for spindles adapted to :be projected througg 'taining them in line therewith, and means said walls 'into the cotton, and means for projecting and withdrawing said spindles and for maintaining them in a fixed position in the cotton during forward movement of the machine.

35. In a cotton harvester, the combination with the main frame adapted to straddle a slats whereby they move with the said frame, picking spindles carried by said longitudinall movable frame, and means for projectmg the spindles through the longitudi-'15 nally movable slats into the cotton.

' In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

ROBERT L. EDWARDS. 'Witnesses:

W. Y. Rnm, STEPHEN H. Jaoxsorr. 

